Kristian Garic

Kristian: Jimmy Graham is hungrier than ever

by Kristian Garic,posted Jun 4 2013 11:57PM

By his own standards, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has a mediocre 2012. Graham caught 85 passes for 982 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. He played nearly the entire season with a wrist injury that required off-season surgery. In 2013, Graham says he’s looking to make amends.

“This is probably the hungriest I’ve ever been to right the wrongs from last year, and prove what this team can do and hush up some of the naysayers,” Graham told us on Tuesday.

He also refuses to use the wrist injury as an excuse for why his play tailed off in 2012.

“I can’t blame it on that. I think everyone in this room wish they could have plays over, and wish they could change the outcome of last year. That is the past, that year is over. Now I’m healthy. I’m just looking to get back in the play offs”.

Graham also didn’t have the opportunity to build chemistry with quarterback Drew Brees last off-season because of the contract standoff between Brees and the Saints last summer.

“It feels like it did two years ago. We’re right on pace. I’m excited for what’s going to happen this year and for everything to start to count,” Graham said.

It would have been hard for Graham to top the stellar 2011 campaign he had (99 catches, 1,310 yards, and 11 touchdowns,) but the sub-1,000 yard season from a year ago is simply not acceptable.

Graham has been one of Brees’ frequent targets in Organized Team Activites and minicamp practices. I’m thinking that he might be the player that benefits the most on offense from Sean Payton’s return in 2013.